Russia Calls on Georgia to Pullout Extra Troops from South Ossetia

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov demanded Georgia to pull out its extra troops from the South Ossetian conflict zone.

RIA Novosti, a Russian news agency, reported on July 13 that Sergei Ivanov said, during his visit to London, that ?around 3,000 Georgian troops are stationed in the conflict zone currently,?  and that this is escalating tensions in the region.

?These kinds of steps from the Georgian side triggers counter-measures by the South Ossetians, which have already began arming themselves,? the Russian Foreign Minister said.

He said that according to an official agreement each of the conflicting sides, together with Russia, should have a maximum of 500 soldiers as a part of the joint peacekeeping troops stationed in the conflict zone.

He also said that Russia recognizes Georgia?s territorial integrity and added that preserving peace in the region should be a top priority.

The Georgian side denies that it has extra troops in the conflict zone.

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